Today's Cultural Warfare Update

[solarbird]

NY Times article on trends in Massachusetts weddings - the main point of the article is that lesbians get married at twice the rate of gay men, but also notes that marriage rights support in Massachusetts has risen dramatically since rights were extended to gayfolk;

Today's Family News in Focus;

Today's main Focus on the Family brodcast is about the Senate rules-change effort - mostly whinging about how mean and evil their opponents are and trying to destroy Christianity, with interspaced repeated plugs to call the Senate to demand an end to filibuster rules on judges;

Sen. John Kerry tells Massachusetts Democratic Party: don't endorse marriage rights;

Washington Times article about the Massachusetts Democratic Party's potential endorsement - they've picked up the scare-quotes around the word marriage, when referring to gayfolk;

Indiana congressman wants to exclude religious establishment cases from parts of the Civil Rights Attourney's Fees Act of 1976, making it harder for people to sue on religious establishment grounds;

Concerned Women for America demands, yet again, rules be changed on judicial filibusters.


----- 1 -----
Even in Gay Circles, the Women Want the Ring
By GINIA BELLAFANTE
Published: May 8, 2005
THE NEW YORK TIMES
Boston

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/08/fashion/sundaystyles/08gay.html?

LAST year, three months after the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that it was unconstitutional to ban gay couples from marrying, a young woman named Bernadette Smith embarked on a reinvention. Ms. Smith abandoned her job running a community outreach program in Boston to become a wedding planner for gay couples, declaratively naming the new business she created It's About Time.

May 17 will be the anniversary of the landmark legalization of gay marriage and in the months since last spring, Ms. Smith has produced a wedding in a bowling alley with pizza and tiki lamps, a party at an oceanfront home documented by a watercolorist, and pagan nuptials officiated by Wiccans, where guests were shepherded from ceremony to reception in rented street cars. Only one consistent trend has emerged in her operation: most of her clients have been women. In the coming months she will oversee eight weddings, only one of them for a male couple.

Although women have served at the front lines of litigation efforts in the emotional debate over same-sex marriage, the issue's most vocal opinion leaders have been men, often leaving the impression that marriage is the preoccupying goal of one sex more than the other. Yet of the close to 5,400 couples who have married in Massachusetts since last May, a figure that represents nearly a third of all same-sex partner households in the state identified by the census, almost two-thirds of the couples have been women. Boston was one of the few cities and towns in the state where male marriages outnumbered female ones.

...

Gay marriage in Massachusetts remains secure until the end of the year, when the issue is to be taken up once again in the State Legislature and potentially put to a popular vote. A public opinion poll conducted by The Boston Globe in March found popular support for gay marriage in the state at 54 percent, an 18-point increase over the previous year. The number of gay marriages themselves have declined since the initial rush last spring; more than half of them occurred in the first six weeks of legalization.


----- 2 -----
Family News in Focus
Monday, May 09, 2005
Focus on the Family

* New law affecting your safety and drivers license is about to pass on Capitol Hill
1. The "Real ID Act," "aims to crak down on illegal immigration, and ... terrorism." Notes controversy about the multiple forms of ID required now to get a driver's license. Anti-immigration groups are strongly for it (requires passport or birth certificate, separate photo ID, proof of residency); national organisation of state legislatures is against it. Called "scare tactics by those opposed to immigration reform." "What is the point of... issuing licenses to people who mean to do us harm?"

* US Congressman's moving story honors America’s fallen soldiers
3. Recreation of "battle for Fallujia" and rides in blackhawk helicopter. Congressman Engliss? sat shiva for one of the dead being carried on the way back to the US. Atty. Jim Shaw talks about how the "heroics and sacrifice" of soldiers never gets reported.

* Open your pantry to help the hungry
8. National Association of Letter Carriers food-collection effort on May 14th - this Saturday. Leave donations of food by your mailbox. You should have gotten a postcard about this from your letter carrier, too.

* Cancer research fund raisers accused of ignoring link between abortion and breast cancer
5. "Quite a few admit that abortion can be a factor in breast cancer." (Note: it is not actually true that abortion causes breast cancer, but it's revived routinely.) Claims third-trimester pregnancy makes breast tissue "more resistant" to breast cancer. So that's presumably the link they're implying. "[Abortion] can be a contributor [to breast cancer]."

* Nebraska Senate amendment provides $500,000 over the next two years to give pregnant women options
6. This report was almost content-free, except for a claim that pro-choice people call it a "back door" to imposing on abortion rights.

* Adolescent and Family Health study finds remaining a virgin through adolescence has many positive effects
4. "Those that keep their virginity through ate 18 are more successful in life when they reach their early 40s." FotF changes that to "saving [themselves] for marriage." Actually states that not having sex makes marriage more attractive.

* Pro-abortion group Catholics for a Free Choice claims 45 percent of Catholic hospitals in the U.S. dispense the Morning After Pill
7. "Some are calling the source of the report highly biased... but in this case, the figures may be right." "Many hospitals are Catholic in name only." Anti-abortion-rights Catholic group urges bishops to take a more "active role" in running hospitals.

* U.S. District Court judge issues delay in Maryland school's gay-friendly health curriculum
2. Montgomery County, MD Maryland health programme on hold, 10-day restraining order. "It's viewpoint discrimination, when you get right down to it" for not including anti-gay commentary.


----- 3 -----
Focus Radio > May 9, 2005
The Battle Over Judicial Nominees
Focus on the Family
Gary Bauer and Tony Perkins

http://www.family.org/fmedia/broadcast/a0036354.cfm

Gary Bauer and Tony Perkins join Dr. Dobson to discuss the anticipated up-or-down vote for President Bush's judicial nominees who have been filibustered.

[Transcriber's note: Gary Bauer is of "American Values," and Tony Perkins, of course, is the Family Research Council.]

Preceeded by a Focus on the Family Radio Theatre production of the Chronicles of Narnia. (enternarnia.com)

From Family Research Council studios in Washington, DC. Talks about National Day of Prayer events all last week, Thursday being the actual day. Was at White House and Cannon House Office Building. May have a later show on that.

Working now on ending filibuster rules with Gary Bauer and Tony Perkins. "This week may be the week of the showdown." Refers to Democrats as Harry Reid's "troops." "Promises to be a very close vote."

Introduces "two colleagues I respect very highly" - Bauer and Perkins. "We're all in the same foxhole right now... the bullets are flying overhead... the ground is almost to hot to walk on at this time..." Calls it the most important vote in "years" or maybe "decades." "This is it... this is probably the most important domestic vote of the president's second term... it will determine whether when he has left office... he will have left behind a judiciary more in line with the views of your audience..."

"Everything we care so deeply about, the issues that brought people to the polls last election... the marriage issue... if you see what has happened over the last 40 years in this country, whether it was the removal of prayer from the schools, or bible reading... or imposing abortion on this country... same-sex marriage... that did not come from elected representatives of the people, it came from the courts."

"The filibuster allows the United States Senate to debate endlessly on any legislative item... something both parties have ended up endorsing... but when you allow endless debate on these judicial nominees, it means they never get their day in court... an up or down vote..." "It's never been done before... there's never been a time when judicial nominees with majority support have been denied an up or down vote." "The media is doing everything it can to confuse this issue and make people think it's just a matter of the way you look at it. Well, it really isn't."

Claims that it keeps judges with strong religious views from getting onto the courts. General assent. "Believes that you believe the scripture, that life is sacred and you should oppose abortion... the message is very clear here, Jim; if we allow this to go forward, our children... are going to have to make a choice. Either they publicly profess their faith in Christ... they're going to have to make a choice..."

Claims that the 10 targeted justices are all on shortlists for the Supreme Court, eventually, and that's what the battle is actually about. Press calls them "extremist... when what they really are is pro-life."

"They really fear that these judges will vote to preserve marriage... do something to restore the sanctity of life to pre-born children..." "According to the leftists in the senate, 2/3 of the country are [radical]."

Lots of ranting about imposing a "leftist mindset" on the courts. More of the usual rhetoric. More about the "anger" of the "leftists" out there. "They are _furious_, the Hollywood crowd, those that come from the far left... [targeted] against us... in 30 years of public life, I have never been subjected to what I'm going through now." [Ed Note: about fucking time, you fat fuck, after all the crap you've been flinging at queers for the last 30 years, calling us child rapists and the destroyers of western civilisation, and on and on. How do you like it, poptart?]

"I think what they're doing is demonising Christian Americans." "They're doing over and over and over again... it's an attack on every one of your listeners out there who beliefs in Judeo-Christian values, and it could lead, in this country, to some very serious consequences!"

Plays quotes from shock-jock Don Imus of Imus in the Morning as representative of modern liberalism. "This is kind of typical."

"There was not one issue mentioned in all of that. They're unwilling to debate on the issues... because the American people are with us across the board." "They want to drive us underground, that's what this is about." [Ed: Oh, the irony...] "Look, these are the same elitists who have invited every oddball movement known to man out of the closet..." Quotes a section from Ken Salazar, who really did tear into Dobson a little while ago. "Breaking new ground in terms of name calling." "Jim Dobson is not our President and he is not our Senator." Also plays the anti-christ quote, which Salazar has retracted as a misstatement.

"It shows very clearly they have no idea what they're talking about... a complete lack of discussion on the issues... it shows that they're desperate... now we're focused on the real heart of the matter, the judicial filibuster that is protecting these liberal courts, we know we have struck deep into their territory by their reaction... we have touched the last playground of the far left, and that's the courts. ... we have now taken a position that threatens [them]."

Al Gore calls Dobson's right-wing politicing a throwback to the kind of religious intolerance that led to the American colonies - and that they'll be pulling strings for 2008. "A virulent new strain" particularly pissed off Dobson, "comparing Christian leaders to being germs, it's unbelievable."

Pissed off about comparisons between them and the Taliban, too. I wonder if they're going to stop whinging soon? OH good, they call it "hate speech" and "demonising" about "christians and christian leaders."

Gets into the John Bolton nomination, and says it's not nearly as bad as the Hillary Clinton's white house travel office firings.

Claims that the "Radical left" is calling American soldiers "baby killers." Get out of 1968, guys.

"It focus on the United States Supreme Court, and the rest of the ... judiciary. IF this filibuster fight is lost by the [Senate] - they're going to use the filibuster to stop anyone who has anyone who has what's called 'originalist views.' ... the things we believe are [going to be] gone."

Action item: demanding that the filibuster be eliminated on judicial nominees. Call your senators, call the congressional switchboard.

Gives a canned speech that I couldn't keep up with that talks about how liberals have been stealing the courts, "liberal activist groups like the ACLU... like a thief in the night..." destroying "our Christian values..."

Action item again - now is the most important time to call to demand an end to judicial filibustering... "We can save our children, we can preserve marriage, we can keep our Christian values..."

"Nothing good happened last November; only the potential for something good... We are at a crossroads... millions of babies are still dying... we still have a supreme court determined to change the definition of marriage... we still have the 10 commandments at risk... this is the finish line."

Contact information given out by someone else - Congressional switchboard: 877.762.8762; points to family.org for how to find your individual senator's contact information; 800.232.6459 for contacting Focus on the Family directly.


----- 4 -----
Democrats' platform shouldn't back gay marriage, Kerry says
By Rick Klein, Globe Staff | May 6, 2005
The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/05/06/democrats_platform_shouldnt_back_gay_marriage_kerry_says/

BATON ROUGE, La. -- US Senator John F. Kerry said yesterday that he believes it's a mistake for the Massachusetts Democratic Party to include a plank in its official platform in support of same-sex marriage, saying that such a statement does not conform with the broad views of party members.

Kerry, who opposes same-sex marriage but supports civil unions, said in an interview with the Globe that he would prefer that the party not mention gay marriage in its platform, because Democrats continue to disagree on how to handle the issue.

''I'm opposed to it being in a platform. I think it's a mistake," Kerry said shortly after hosting a forum on his universal children's healthcare bill in Baton Rouge. ''I think it's the wrong thing, and I'm not sure it reflects the broad view of the Democratic Party in our state."

Some analysts believe that the same-sex marriage issue contributed to Kerry's loss to President Bush in last year's presidential campaign. Kerry's position puts him at odds with the state Democratic Party chairman and his fellow Bay State senator, Edward M. Kennedy, who is scheduled to address the party convention next weekend.

Kerry said he does not plan to attend this year's state Democratic convention or to lobby against the same-sex marriage plank. He said he has not been closely monitoring debate over the state party platform.

The state party chairman, Philip W. Johnston, said Kerry's opposition will not affect the party's decision to support of same-sex marriage. When the party meets next Saturday in Lowell, he said, the platform is on track to be approved as it stands.

''I have great affection and respect for John, but I disagree on this issue," Johnston said. ''It is important that the state Democratic Party support civil rights. We need to take a stand."

[More at URL]


----- 5 -----
Democrats set to endorse gay 'marriage'
By Donald Lambro
THE WASHINGTON TIMES

http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20050508-120549-7091r.htm

Massachusetts Democrats are preparing to endorse same-sex "marriage" in their party platform this week, reopening a bitter split among national party leaders, some of whom fear the issue will hurt their campaign to win back majority status in Congress.

State Democrats plan to embrace same-sex "marriage" at their party convention Saturday, despite deep disagreement over the issue between the state's two U.S. senators, an arms-length posture by the national party, and a public backlash against it that has spawned a political movement to ban it in state law and at the federal level in the U.S. Constitution.

Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts -- the party's 2004 presidential nominee, who opposes same-sex "marriage," but favors state-sanctioned civil unions -- lashed out at his party's plans Thursday during an appearance in Baton Rouge, La., suggesting that it could only further alienate swing voters.

"I'm opposed to it being in a platform. I think it's a mistake," Mr. Kerry told the Boston Globe. "I think it's the wrong thing, and I'm not sure it reflects the broad view of the Democratic Party in our state. I'm opposed to gay marriage. I support partnerships and civil unions."

But a spokesman for the state's senior senator, Edward M. Kennedy, said soon after Mr. Kerry's remarks that Mr. Kennedy wholeheartedly backed the proposed platform plank.

However, that is not the position of the Democratic National Committee, whose chairman, Howard Dean of Vermont, helped enact civil unions in his state as governor.

"We've been saying that state parties have every right to establish their own party platform and several states' views differ on that from the national party," DNC spokeswoman Laura Gross said. "The national party platform supports civil unions. Governor Dean supports the national party platform."

Actually, the platform, approved in July at the DNC's national convention in Boston, does not specifically mention civil unions, but instead says: "We support full inclusion of gay and lesbian families in the life of our nation and seek equal responsibilities, benefits and protections for these families."

[More at URL]


----- 6 -----
Bill to take profit out of anti-religion suits
Supporters say measure removes ACLU incentive to challenge faith in public
Posted: May 7, 2005
1:00 a.m. Eastern

© 2005 WorldNetDaily.com

http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=44155

An Indiana congressman plans to curb the ACLU's appetite for filing suits targeting religion in the public square by introducing a bill that denies plaintiff attorneys the right to collect attorneys fees in such cases.

Rep. John Hostettler, R-Ind., is expected to file his measure next week to amend the Civil Rights Attorney's Fees Act of 1976, 42 U.S.C. Section 1988, to prohibit prevailing parties from being awarded attorneys fee in religious establishment cases, but not in other civil rights filings.

"Every other civil right case, there is some injury to somebody," American Legion attorney Rees Lloyd of Banning, California, told a Thursday rally in front of ACLU's Los Angeles offices. "Somebody lost their job ... somebody got beat up by authorities – they have some physical, mental, economic injury. But in an Establishment Clause case, it is someone who says, 'I take offense,' and the offense is based on religions, politics, philosophy, but there is no injury."

Hostettler introduced a bill with identical language in 2003 to permit only injunctive relief in cases filed under the religious-establishment clause of the Constitution and to deny attorneys fees. Although that bill failed in subcommittee, Lloyd is optimistic that the current offering will pass this session because of the more conservative makeup of the current Congress and escalating calls to curb an activist judiciary, particularly on religious matters.

"The issue is about the absolute fanaticism of the ACLU and the absolute arrogance of a judiciary that says we have to wipe out of history all the evidence of our heritage," Lloyd told the Los Angeles Daily Journal, a legal newspaper.

[More at URL]


----- 7 -----
Pro-Life Women's Group Chides Senate Democrats on Filibusters
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
May 1, 2005

http://www.lifenews.com/nat1316.html

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A pro-life women's group is criticizing Senate Democrats for refusing to allow up or down votes on President Bush's pro-life judicial picks. Concerned Women for America (CWA) says the Senate minority's refusal to vote on the president's judicial nominees is like the neighborhood bully who takes the ball and runs home because he can't stand to lose.

"The minority knows that every nominee has more than 51 votes for confirmation so they refuse to vote to keep from losing," said Jan LaRue, CWA's chief counsel. "They claim that the president's nominees are out of the mainstream but it's the minority that's lost touch with mainstream Americans and lost the election as a result."

LaRue said abortion advocates in the Senate oppose the selections for federal district and appeals courts because they prefer judges who legislate from the bench.

"Americans don't want judges who think the Constitution needs to conform to the laws of some banana republic or that it's their own personal Etch-a-Sketch to create rights to … partial-birth abortion," LaRue added.

Concerned Women for America encouraged Senate Republicans and pro-life advocates to pursue changing rules regarding filibusters, the parliamentary tactic used to prevent votes on the nominees.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has been contemplating a vote on changing the rules to lower the number of votes needed to stop a filibuster from 60 to 50.

"Sen. Frist and members of both parties who are fed up with the losers' judicial-bustering need to take the ball and let the bullies run home," LaRue concluded. "Losers get to vote -- they don't get to win by rewriting the rules. It takes 51 votes to confirm a judge and 41 to throw a tantrum."

Comments

[llachglin.livejournal.com]

Those scare quotes really annoy me. You don't see them putting scare quotes around uses of the word "family" in such contexts as "family" values and "Family" Research Council, where they actually would make some sense. It's clear editorializing in what's supposed to be a news article.

On the other hand, it's the Moonie-run Washington Times, and not a serious newspaper. But some people do take it seriously, unfortunately.

[solarbird]

Showing up in the Times means it's probably jumping from the fundamentalist community - which has been doing it forever - into the main Republican party. It's certainly trying to make that jump.

[avram]

The Moonie Times has been doing that scare-quotes thing for at least a few months.